Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s History With Bilaal Salaam: What We Know

Once described as part of Will Smith’s inner circle, Bilaal Salaam has become a controversial figure in the orbit of the Oscar winner and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Salaam has publicly claimed a decades-long friendship with Will. However, that alleged bond unraveled after he made explosive accusations during a 2023 podcast appearance. The fallout has since escalated into a legal dispute, with Salaam filing a civil lawsuit against Jada over an alleged 2021 confrontation, and the Smiths firmly denying any wrongdoing. So, what is Salaam’s relationship with Will and Jada? Here’s what to know.

Bilaal Salaam says he was close to Will Smith for ‘nearly 40 years’

Before the 2025 lawsuit that thrust Bilaal Salaam back into headlines, Salaam publicly portrayed his connection to Will Smith as a long‑standing personal and professional association. In his civil complaint and prior interviews, he described himself as being part of Smith’s circle for “nearly 40 years.” He asserted that he had worked closely with the actor on various projects and personal matters. Salaam pointed to the fact that he is pictured in Smith’s memoir, Will, as evidence of that longstanding relationship and to support his claim of friendship and involvement in Smith’s life, People reports.

Salaam has since reiterated his longstanding relationship with Will, noting that he and the actor even have movie credits together. Will has not publicly commented on his personal relationship with Salaam.

Bilaal Salaam filed a lawsuit alleging a ‘verbal confrontation’ with Jada Pinkett Smith

In November 2025, Bilaal Salaam, who has publicly described himself as a longtime associate of Will Smith, filed a $3 million civil lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith in a California court. According to his complaint, Jada confronted him at a private event in the lobby of the Regency Calabasas Commons on Sept. 25, 2021. Salaam alleges that Jada became verbally aggressive, warning that if he continued to speak about her personal matters, he would “end up missing or catch a bullet,” according to People.

The lawsuit further asserts that a cascade of retaliatory behavior followed the alleged confrontation after Salaam refused to assist with crisis management surrounding the fallout from the 2022 Academy Awards incident involving Will Smith. Specifically, Salaam claims he was asked to help manage the public relations fallout from the widely publicized Oscars slap. Salaam alleges that his refusal triggered intimidation and harassment. He also alleges additional threats and damaging conduct when it was disclosed that he was working on a memoir about his experiences with the Smiths.

In response, Pinkett Smith has moved to dismiss the lawsuit. She labeled it false and uncorroborated. In her legal filings, she argues that many of Salaam’s claims, including those tied to the 2021 incident, are intertwined with statements he made publicly about the Smith family, which she says are protected under California’s anti-SLAPP statute.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s motion to dismiss also references the allegations about Will Smith’s sexuality

In 2023, Bilaal Salaam alleged on Unwine with Tasha K that he witnessed sexual acts between Will Smith and actor Duane Martin. In response, Jada Pinkett Smith went on The Breakfast Club to dismiss the rumors. “Let me just say this: It’s ridiculous, right? And it’s nonsense,” she said, according to People.

Jada went on to describe the rumors as “funny,” noting that Will “laughed” it all off. “You have to because it’s absolutely ridiculous, you know what I’m saying,” she continued. “So, all you have is, you just gotta laugh about it. And it’s unfortunate.”

According to Jada, Salaam tried a “money shakedown that didn’t work.” She noted at the time that she planned to take legal action. Later, in her motion to dismiss Salaam’s lawsuit, Jada referenced the rumors.

“Plaintiff voluntarily gave media interviews claiming — without evidence — that he personally witnessed her husband, actor Will Smith, engaging in sexual acts,” the motion to dismiss states. “Plaintiff’s allegations were false, uncorroborated, and made to generate attention as part of an ongoing public campaign of harassment directed at Defendant and her family.”